Govt Warns Revenue Authorities Over Bad-Faith Land Decisions

Quick Summary

• Karnataka’s government has initiated disciplinary actions against revenue quasi-judicial authorities who allegedly issued orders with mala fide intentions regarding government land.
• An amendment to Section 196 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act allows such action for authorities found not acting in “good faith.”
• Krishna Byre Gowda,Minister of Revenue,disclosed this details during a Legislative Assembly meeting in Bengaluru on Monday.
• Earlier, appeals to higher authorities were the only recourse for such cases; now disciplinary steps are possible.
• Authorities with quasi-judicial powers include tahsildars, Assistant Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and Regional Commissioners.
• BJP MLA Sathish Reddy raised concerns over alleged encroachment of five acres of government land in bommanahalli constituency despite unfavorable court rulings against the encroacher.
• The Minister expressed shock over an Assistant Commissioner’s decision favoring the encroacher and promised a probe by the Deputy Commissioner within seven to 10 days.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The amendments made to Section 196 of Karnataka Land Revenue Act represent a meaningful step toward ensuring accountability among quasi-judicial revenue authorities tasked with managing sensitive land-related cases. This move could serve as deterrence against misuse or manipulation aimed at favoring illegal encroachments on public property-a concern highlighted by specific allegations from MLA Sathish Reddy during the assembly session. Strengthening disciplinary mechanisms further aligns administrative functioning with principles of justice and transparency while emphasizing that protections provided by law cannot be exploited.

If implemented effectively, this measure could protect valuable government assets like burial grounds or public spaces from unlawful occupation which threatens lasting urban planning and progress efforts across communities impacted similar case examples .

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